Tempara's Stand

*Third instalment of the Elevea Trilogy* With the King of Hinnid captured, the Prince on the run and the Lady of the Moor believed lost, the Queen is forced to relinquish power to save her people. All over Elevea battles are being lost as Nith takes back its long lost treasure. But the Elevean magic is growing out of control and not even Nith can match its power. With magic threatening everything, it will have to be decided: is this a battle of men or of the ultimate, dark powers ruling the earth?

2. Some More Elevean Folk Songs and Verses

So, since Elevea's Child, a couple of new folk songs and verses pop up in Selkin's Secret and Tempara's Stand. I thought I would again share them and give you some background/explanations.

The first is actually a poem. It is a traditional Elevean verse, recited at weddings, funerals and other state occasions. It is almost a national anthem, but a verse. Most Eleveans can recite it and it is almost a trademark and identity for Eleveans old and new. The poem itself is so old that no one knows quite how old it is, where it came from or why it is so popular.

My heart is green

like the meadows and pastures

and glades that carpet my soul.

My eyes are blue

as the laughing stream

that tinkles through my song.

My hair is brown,

just as the deep earth

under all eternity.

My thoughts are black,

sprinkled with stars,

as the blinding light encloses me;

for none is more beautiful

than these wanderers.

However my heart is green

like my homeland.

Perhaps;

in dreaming?

There is a tune I have written inspired by this poem, entitled 'In Dreaming'. I think of it as the main theme of Hinnid and the essence of Elevea's virtuous character: courage and heritage, something Eleveans pride themselves on. You can hear the tune here in the Elevean Symphony: second movement at 6.31. https://soundcloud.com/anniegreenie/sets/tunes-from-elevea

Now a song which features heavily in the second two novels is again a traditional folk song called 'The Blackbird'. It is a poignant song for the characters as it is the favourite song of Jovhulan, the young Prince who is murdered at the beginning of Selkin's Secret. His murder strongly affects both his parents, brother and sister, friend and Hinnid, all of which strongly influence what happens in the novels. This song is sung at his funeral and a blackbird becomes Jovhulan's symbol: his saddle pin which his sister, Ilidh, treasures.

The song itself tells the story of a person asking a blackbird to sing to them. They go on to tell the blackbird, which flies away, how their true love has left them and told them not to look for them or dwell on what should have been. It holds a strong message about letting things go and moving on, something which especially, as the novels progress, Ilidh fails to do which contributes to her downfall. Ilidh spends much of her time blaming herself for her brother's death and trying to find a way to bring him back. The moral of the song is as much Jovhulan's last message to his sister to leave him at rest. Although only alive in the first two pages of the novel, Jovhulan is the main influence throughout the two following novels, as is this song.

There’s a wise man living down in the vale

With feathers and wings and a long black tail.

If you ask him to sing he will open one eye,

Stretch out his feathers and take to the sky.

Oh you blackbird as you sit in your tree

Look down and sing to a little old me.

Wherever you fly, whether far or near

Take with you this song and the ears which hear.

Stretch your wings and fly into the blue,

And never look back as the old men do,

But swirl in the air with a joyful reprise

And look to the heavens, the endless skies.

As once my love he said to me,

‘I’m going far away where you cannot be:

But do not look for me, do not look behind,

And remember the blackbird; the song of his kind.'

You can listen to the tune again in the symphony: movement three at 1.58.